Zatlers accredits diplomats, says goodbye to Larson

Andris Straumanis | 

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers has accredited two new ambassadors and said farewell to U.S. Ambassador Charles Larson, the president’s press office announced during the first work week of January.

The new ambassador to Russia, Edgars Skuja, received his letter of accreditation Jan. 7. Skuja most recently served as assistant state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and before that was Latvia’s ambassador to Estonia.

Skuja replaces Andris Teikmanis, who is back in Rīga serving as the state secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the former state secretary, Normans Penke, was handed the post of ambassador to the United Nations.

In his meeting with Skuja, Zatlers stressed the need to continue Latvia’s politicial dialogue with Russia and to improve economic, cultural and educational relations, according to the president’s press office. Zatlers also said addressing questions of history remains important, including the return of archives to Latvia.

Latvia’s new nonresident ambassador to Iceland will be Andris Sekacis, who also is the ambassador to Norway. He received his letter of accreditation from Zatlers on Jan. 9, according to a presidential spokesperson. Zatlers noted during their meeting that Iceland was the first nation to recognize Latvia’s renewed independence in 1991. Sekacis replaces Māris Klišāns.

In a Jan. 7 visit, U.S. Ambassador Larson said goodbye to Zatlers. Larson, appointed just last year, will be leaving Rīga to be replaced by a new ambassador yet to be appointed by Barack Obama, whose inauguration as the next U.S. president is scheduled Jan. 20. Zatlers thanked Larson for his work in helping to secure visa-free travel with the United States and for cooperation on security questions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week also noted that Ambassador Juris Poikāns submitted his letter of accreditation to the government of Slovenia. He began his career with the ministry in 1993 and has served as part of the embassy staffs in Russia and Belarus.

In addition, the ministry noted the death of Jānis Lovniks, a 17-year veteran of Latvia’s diplomatic corps. Among other responsibilities, Lovniks was Latvia’s ambassador to China from 2004-2008.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Choir director Gido Kokars to receive Great Music Award

Andris Straumanis | 

Choir director Gido Kokars is to receive the Great Music Award (Lielā mūzikas balva) for his lifetime of achievement, the award’s nominating committee announced Jan. 7 in Rīga. Kokars has led several choirs through his career, has taught at the Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music and has been principal conductor of several Latvian Song Festivals.

His twin brother Imants, also a well-known choir director and teacher, received the award in 1995.

The Great Music Award is the highest state honor for musical achievement. It was initiated in 1993 by popular composer Raimonds Pauls, who at the time was the minister of culture.

Nominees for other awards are:

  • For debut of the year, pianist Andrejs Osokins, opera singer Rihards Bramanis, and composer and percussionist Rihards Zaļupe.
  • For concert of the year, the vocal group Cosmos; the concert “Dāvida dziesmas” featuring Gunta Davidčuka, Kristīne Adamaite and Artis Sīmanis; and the Oct. 18 opening concert of the Arena Music Festival.
  • For work in an ensemble, Agnese Kanniņa-Liepiņa, Diāna Ozoliņa and Jānis Stafeckis.
  • For individual achievement in Latvia, Diāna Ketlere for her Sept. 23 concert “Eiropas kamermūzikas šedevri” in the Small Guild; singer Intars Busulis for his concerts of jazz and cabaret music and for concerts in support of his album Kino; and Latvian National Opera soloist Krišjānis Norvelis.
  • For interpretation, the chamber orchestra Sinfonietta Rīga for its Oct. 18 performance during the Arena Music Festival; the Riga Dome Boys Choir for its Dec. 30 and 31 concerts in the Luther Church in Rīga; and singer Ieva Parša for her performance in the Nov. 12 concert “Kaislību spēles.”
  • For performance of the year, the youth choir Kamēr for its July 3-4 concerts in the University of Latvia and for its compact disc Pasaules Saules dziesmas; the Nov. 17 performance, conducted by Imants Resnis, of Gustav Mahler’s “8th Symphony” in Arēna Rīga; the Latvian National Opera for the Richard Wagner opera “Zigfrīds.”
  • For new compositions, Andris Dzenītis for “Let it be Forgotten” and “Baložu pasts”, and Gustavs Fridrihsons for “Chiaroscuro.”

The awards will be presented March 3 in the Latvian National Opera in Rīga.

For more on the awards, visit www.muzikasbalva.lv, where music fans also will have the opportunity to vote for their favorites.

Zuika un brāļi Kokari

Honorary principal conductors (from left to right) Roberts Zuika, Gido Kokars and Imants Kokars chat during the opening concert of last summer’s Latvian Song and Dance Celebration in Rīga. (Photo by Aivars Liepiņš, Song and Dance Celebration Office)

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Consular register now available online

Andris Straumanis | 

Residents of Latvia traveling abroad now have an easier means of letting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs know where they are thanks to an online consular register.

The register, which can be accessed at kr.mfa.gov.lv, is voluntary. Registering one’s location allows officials to help travelers in case of emergency, according to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.

The Web site became available Jan. 1.

Residents of Latvia may also register their whereabouts with Latvian embassies, consulates and consulates general, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department in Rīga.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.